Shell partners with JMRF for livelihood assistance in Samar

Shell companies in the Philippines (SciP) through its social investment arm Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) continues to extend assistance to Yolanda-affected families with its recent partnership with the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation (JMRF). Shell donated Php3 million to the Jesse M. Robredo Foundation (JMRF) for the procurement of 120 motorized fishing boats which will support the livelihood rehabilitation of fishermen who lost their boats during the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

The collaboration benefits 30 affected fishermen from each of the four municipalities of Balangiga, Lawaan, Salcedo, and Quinapondan in Eastern Samar. Through JMRF’s Tabangay – Bayanihan para sa mga Barangay project, these boats will be distributed to fishermen identified to have lost their boats and means of living in the typhoon. Shell moves hand in hand with the Tabangay project, adding four more municipalities as beneficiaries in Eastern Samar and providing them with livelihood programmes to help the affected families.

Shell’s ongoing rehabilitation efforts are aligned with the government’s rehabilitation plan and the company’s social investment programmes in the areas of enterprise development, access to energy, environment, and community development. These include livelihood programmes, construction of homes and school multi-purpose halls/gyms, mangrove tree planting, distribution of solar lamps, and emergency preparedness training for fenceline communities.

Recently, previous efforts of Shell similar to the support handed to JMRF was recognised with a Big Tick Award in the UK Business in the Community (BITC) Responsible Business Awards – Shell’s “Relief & Rehabilitation Programme for Super Typhoon Haiyan Victims”.

"The recognition is motivating, but what keeps the company in continuously helping these affected families is knowing that we can change what (Typhoon) Yolanda has written in their lives."